Monday, 20 June 2011, Grafenwöhr.
It's an early first morning as the cadets rise for an MRE breakfast, don swim gear and collect plastic bags. The battalion arrives at the Grafenwöhr Schwimbad about 0630 to learn water survival techniques . . . how to remain afloat using your clothes. Active duty Soldiers from Vilseck's 2nd SCR show up to conduct the training. It's a chilly morning and most of the cadets are a little reluctant to go into the water, but they do it anyway. One platoon at a time cadets get into the shallow end, practice the techniques, and then swim to the other end of the pool. Non-swimmers wear life jackets.
Once at the deep end, cadets are encouraged to take a large step to build self-confidence . . . that step is five meters off the surface of the water. One-by-one cadets climb the ladder to the top level of the diving platform and jump with yells such as, "Bravo Two!" . . . "Alpha One!" A number of cadets are very hesitent to jump, but afterwards emerge from the water with huge smiles. "I did it!" "That was really great!"
Once at the deep end, cadets are encouraged to take a large step to build self-confidence . . . that step is five meters off the surface of the water. One-by-one cadets climb the ladder to the top level of the diving platform and jump with yells such as, "Bravo Two!" . . . "Alpha One!" A number of cadets are very hesitent to jump, but afterwards emerge from the water with huge smiles. "I did it!" "That was really great!"